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Abstract

In this chapter a novel, rigorous approach to analyse the validity of continuum approximations for deterministic interacting particle systems is discussed. The focus is on the Boltzmann–Grad limit of ballistic annihilation, a topic which has has received considerable attention in the physics literature. In this situation, due to the deterministic nature of the evolution, it is possible that correlations build up and the mean–field approximation by the Boltzmann equation breaks down. A sharp condition on the initial distribution, which ensures the validity of the Boltzmann equation is given, together with an example demonstrating the failure of the mean-field theory if the condition is viola